Me, on stage presenting to a crowd at a conference

I occasionally field requests to deliver a talk or workshop at conferences, internal events, and webinars. Reach out if you think I might be a good fit for your team or event.

From Cargo Cults to Creative Systems

I'm smiling in front of the title slide of my presentation

Many designers are comfortable managing complicated sets of information, but less are comfortable with complexity, and the ambiguity that often surrounds it. Instead, we turn to buzzwordy processes (Design Thinking! Agile!) without addressing the underlying behaviors and relationships that actually hold the keys to change. In this talk, I introduce the vocabulary and dynamics of systems, and address how need to consider them if we‘re going to be successful shepherding transformation.

Slides | Video

Design Systems for People

I'm speaking in front of a room in front of a slide reading 'Principles'

So much of the focus on design systems centers around the stuff we put in them. However, examples and surveys show that it's the culture of communication and collaboration that actually holds the keys to success. Design systems amplify that culture, so we have to focus on improving those systems first in order to create design systems that thrive.

(note: this content can be delivered in many formats, from a 1-hour talk to an 8-hour immersive workshop.)

Slides

Designing for Impact

Me in front of a slide reading 'Business problems are design problems'

Design is at a pivotal moment. Our influence within the business is growing, our skills are in higher demand as problems grow more complex, and companies across size and industries are asking themselves: how do we increase the impact of design?

Explore the drivers of design maturity through the lens of research, drawing from two major reports released last year, and from stories of success to learn how highly design-mature companies manage, evangelize, and practice design.

Slides | Video

Creative Mindfulness: Designing with a Beginners Mindset

I'm speaking at a conference in front of a screen that's cut off

Part of the design process requires detaching ourselves from our personal bias, habits, and assumptions. Counterintuitively, the more we "do" design (or anything), the more challenging it is for us to return to a state where we can actively self-assess and improve our approach to problem-solving.

In this talk, I introduce creative methods to be more intentional and to carry a beginner's mindset into your work. We'll discuss how to better arm you and your teams to stay productively curious and to encourage that behavior in others.

Slides | Video